Apparatus and method for reducing pain during skin puncturing procedures

ABSTRACT

A handheld instrument for minimizing pain during administration by injection of a liquid, such as, an anesthetic that has a main body, a vibration unit mounted in the main body when initiated to cause the main body to vibrate, and a detachable tip cantilever mounted on the main body to vibrate with it, the tip having a free end characterized by a bifurcation to form two spaced projections defining a space between them, whereby the spaced projections can be placed in proximity to, adjacent to and bracketing a preselected injection site on a human or animal and the tissue at said preselected injection site and vibrated while an injection is given.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in medical anddental procedures, and particularly to a method and apparatus in theform of a retractor vibrator for reducing or minimizing pain during skinpuncturing procedures, such as, administration by injection, into thegums, skin or other tissue of a patient, of a liquid, such as, and inparticular, an anesthetic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, the normal procedure for reducing the pain wheninjecting a liquid, such as, an anesthetic, serum, vitamins, vaccine, orother medical or dental efficacious liquids is either to (a) place avery cold material against the skin or flesh of the patient at theinjection site, (b) to apply a topical treatment to the skin or flesh atthe injection site, which temporarily numbs the skin or flesh (c)rapidly manually massaging the skin or tissue at the injection sitewhile performing the injection. Although these procedures have someeffect, they are either cumbersome, require some time to complete or areof limited effect and do not reduce the pain to a satisfactory level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the disadvantages of the prior art, it is a general object ofthe present invention to provide a method and apparatus in the form of aretractor vibrator, the use of which will overcome those disadvantageswhen injecting an anesthetic, serum, vitamins, vaccine, or other medicalor dental efficacious liquids. In particular, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide an apparatus and method which can be easilyand inexpensively utilized during a medical, veterinary or dentalprocedure to almost completely or substantially eliminate the painattendant an injection as it punctures the skin or flesh of the patient.

In keeping with the objects of the present invention, the presentinvention comprises a method and a hand-held apparatus, in its preferredform of a retractor vibrator, for vibrating at least two skin or tissueareas immediately adjacent and bracketing an injection sitesimultaneously with injection by needle of a liquid, such as, ananesthesia, serum, vitamins, vaccine, or other medical or dentalefficacious liquids, into the skin or tissue at the injection site. Sucha typical injection procedure may involve an injection of Novocain intoa patient's gum or other tissue during a dental procedure.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide an instrumentfor minimizing pain during administration by injection of a liquid, suchas, an anesthetic comprising a main body, a vibration unit mounted inthe main body when initiated to cause the main body to vibrate, and adetachable tip cantilever mounted on the main body to vibrate with it,said tip having a free end characterized by a bifurcation to form twospaced projections defining a space between them, whereby the spacedprojections can be placed in proximity to, adjacent to and bracketing apreselected injection site on a human or animal and the tissue at saidpreselected injection site vibrated while an injection is given.

As further objects of the invention an instrument as above can bearranged wherein the detachable tip includes a paddle to act as aretractor, wherein a 360° control switch is provided on the main bodyfor on/off control of the vibration unit, wherein a music player isincluded in the main body for playing music through a speaker, whereinthe main body includes rechargeable batteries as a power source to drivethe vibration unit, wherein lights are provided on the main bodydirected toward the space defined between the spaced projections,wherein the paddle is split to define two portions each being capable ofvibrating independently, wherein caps are received on the two spacedprojections, and/or wherein the surface of the paddle is reflective.

Another object of the invention includes an instrument comprising twoelongated housings coupled at one end by a resilient V-shaped bar, theforward ends of the housings spaced from one another and terminating infree ends which define a space therebetween, a sterile removable cap onthe free ends, a vibration unit mounted in each housing when actuated tovibrate the main body including the free ends, whereby the spaced cappedfree ends can be placed in proximity to, adjacent to and bracketing apreselected injection site on a human or animal and the tissue at saidpreselected injection site vibrated while an injection is given

Another object of the invention includes an instrument comprising a mainbody, a pair of arms having free ends pivoted to the main body andresiliently biased apart, a stop for limiting the separation of the freeends of the arms so that a space is defined between them, a sterileremovable cap received on each free end, whereby the spaced capped freeends can be placed in proximity to, adjacent to and bracketing apreselected injection site on a human or animal and the tissue at saidpreselected injection site vibrated while an injection is given.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an instrumentcomprising a main body, a pair of arms having free ends mounted on themain body, the free ends of the arms projecting away from the main bodyso that a space is defined between them, the free ends of said armsdefining sterile contact areas, whereby the sterile contact areas can beplaced in contact with skin or tissue in proximity to, adjacent to andbracketing a preselected injection site on a human or animal and thecontacted skin or tissue vibrated while an injection is given. Theinstrument described can be arranged wherein the pair of arms are fixedin a structure that is attached to the main body, and alternatively thestructure is detachably coupled to the main body. Also the instrumentcan be arranged wherein the sterile contact areas are defined byremovable coverings or are defined by coatings of FDA approved softplastic. Also, another object of the invention includes a methodcomprising the steps of vibrating tissue of a human or animal inproximity to, adjacent to and bracketing a preselected injection sitewhile simultaneously injecting by a needle or like instrument a liquidat the preselected injection site. The bracketing can be at spacedlocations relative to the injection site. The bracketing can also be onopposite sides of the injection site.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features and objects of the present invention willbe discussed in terms of the attached figures wherein like referencenumerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a drawing partly in section of an embodiment of the apparatusof the present invention;

FIG. 1A shows a cross section through the handle of the apparatus shownin FIG. 1, showing the details of a 360° switch employed;

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus of the present invention positioned in acharger;

FIG. 3 is a elevational view illustrating a modification of theapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a second, preferred, embodiment of theapparatus of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing how the apparatus is inserted in atoy or model;

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the apparatus of the inventionsuitable for a medical application with the apparatus shown inserted ina toy or model shown in dotted line;

FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the inventionsuitable for a medical application;

FIGS. 9A, B and C show respectively, a fifth embodiment of the inventionin a side view, a top view and a bottom view; and

FIGS. 10A, B and C show respectively, a sixth embodiment of theinvention in a side view, a top view and a bottom view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a retractor vibrator is shown generally designatedas 10 for performing the functions of the present invention, as will beexplained hereinafter. In particular, retractor vibrator 10 is ahandheld apparatus comprising a main body or handle 12 in the shape of atube having an end closure 14 that is threaded to screw onto the openend of tube 12 complementarily fitted. Handle 12 is composed of hardplastic. Rechargeable batteries 16, two being used, power a knownvibrator unit 18, shown schematically, that is fixed in the handle 12and when actuated, causes the handle 12 and everything mounted on it tovibrate, in the nature of a vibrating electric toothbrush. A suitablecircuit 20, shown schematically, connects with the vibrator 18 via anon/off switch 22 incorporated in part in a resilient collar 24 extending360° to enable actuation of the switch in any hand position on thehandle 12. Alternatively, a simple on/off switch can be used. Thevibrator 18 may be any known vibrator existing in the prior art which iscapable of providing vibratory energy at a suitable vibratory frequencyand intensity, such as the vibration unit of an electrically operatedtoothbrush as is currently on the market. Typical devices includepiezoelectric devices connected to sources of ultrasonic frequencysignals and rotating motors with offset weights.

Also contained within the handle 12, shown schematically, is a musicrecorder/player 30 that is loaded with a recording that plays through aspeaker 32 situated in the handle 12 behind perforations 34. A switch 36is provided suitably connected to turn the recorder 30 on/off toinitiate the recording and shut it off. The recorder/player can also beintegrated into the switch 24 so that when the unit is turned on, themusic plays, and when the unit is turned off the music stops playing.The handle 12 is also provided with two lights 38 (green to showadequately charged) and 40 (amber to show in need of charging) that areconnected in the circuit 20 to monitor the condition of the batteries16. Contacts 33 for charging the batteries 16 are mounted on theexterior of handle 12 at the rear, and connected via a known andsuitable charging unit 35 to the batteries 16.

The front end of the handle 12 has a tapered transition section 40 thattapers down to a smaller tube 42 in which a projection 44 is fixedlymounted that extends outwardly to provide a mounting post 46 havingslightly raised bosses 48 on which to position an elongated disposablesterilized tip 50. The disposable tip 50 is a retractor vibratingcomponent, composed of opaque hard plastic, comprises, at its rear end,a tubular section 62 that is provided with a central opening 64extending in the longitudinal axial direction of the tip 50. The tip 50is placed on the handle by fitting the projection 44 into the tipopening 64 and pressing so that the tip 50 is securely held by frictionby the slight raised bosses 48, but can be pulled off readily whendesired.

The front end of tip 50 is comprised of a transition section 66extending from the tubular section 62 and transitions from round to agenerally flat retractor paddle 52 formed with a V recess 54 andterminating with two stubs 56 extending forwardly and spaced apart, theconcept being that the two stubs 56 are able to lie adjacent to andbracket a proposed injection site 60, shown in dotted lines, in closeproximity therewith and on opposite sides of the injection site 60.Rubber caps 58 are opaque and cover the stubs 56, and are intended asthe vibrating contact points with the tissue or skin being contacted.The retractor paddle is split at zigzag line 61 to enable the two splitportions of the paddle to vibrate independently in a plane normal to theplane of the paddle 52. The preferred vibration imparted to the paddleis in the plane normal to the paddle 52. The split may be omitted so thepaddle is integrally one component.

A pair of lights 68, preferably LEDs are mounted 180° apart on the frontend of handle 12 directed over the top surface (plane) and bottomsurface (plane) of the flat paddle 52, pointed or aimed at the V-space54 between the rubber caps 58, i.e. to illuminate the injection site 60(SEE FIGS. 2 and 3). The lights 68 turn on and off with the actuation ofthe switch 22 which controls the vibrator unit 18. When the vibrationunit 18 is powered, the handle 12 and the tip 50 vibrate, and therefore,the rubber caps 58 vibrate. Since the caps 58 are intended to be incontact with the skin or tissue in close proximity to and adjacent toand bracketing an injection site 60, the vibrations of these areas,bracketing the injection site 60, act to minimize and reduce pain whichmight result from a needle being inserted into the skin or tissue at theinjection site.

The apparatus of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2 positioned or mounted in acharging unit 70, of conventional design and consisting of a mountingbase or platform to receive the handle 12 with the contacts suitablyelectrically engaged for charging. A line 72 connects the charging unit70 to an AC voltage outlet, e.g. a 110 volt outlet, for charging. A pairof lights 73 (one being green and one being red denoting the standardactivity and condition of the charger) are mounted on the charger.Vibrator unit 18 is powered by the rechargeable batteries 16 serviceableto be changed when necessary, by unscrewing bottom end of the handle atclosure 14. As explained, the handle 12 has a projection 44 sticking outof the top end of the unit which vibrates and allows a disposableretractor vibrator tip 50 to be detachably snapped on over theprojection (bosses 48). Although a snap fit is described, the detachableconnection between the disposable tip 50 and the end of the handle 12could be a press fit or a bayonet fit, or any other suitable detachableconnection. The retractor vibrator unit 10 contains two headlights 68,one on each side of the retractor tip 50, aimed toward the rubber nodesor caps 58. The retractor vibrator 10 has a squeezable on/off switch 24near the top end. This switch 24 wraps circumferentially 360 degreesaround the unit. It is pressed and released for on, and pressed andreleased for off. The retractor vibrator 10 also contains a vibratingunit 18 and a musical box 30 with speaker 32 which plays a melody andhas its own on/off switch 36.

Disposable retractor vibrator tip 50 is made of hard, resilient plastic,with or without a rubber or other coating. In the most preferredarrangement, the paddle surface is reflective, and may be hard plasticthat is white and reflective or covered by a reflective film. It has 2caps or nodes 58 on the end, preferably hard rubber but could be anycomparable material that won't dampen vibrations and is not hardplastic, which vibrate when unit 18 is turned on. The paddle 50 servesas a retractor which maintains the injection site 60 free andaccessible. For example, if the retractor vibrator is inserted into apatient's mouth in order to administer an injection near the gum line,the paddle 50 will hold the cheek retracted. This entire retractorpaddle 50 will vibrate and includes the 2 rubber nodes 58. The paddle 50will be from about one-sixteenth of an inch in thickness to aboutone-quarter inch in thickness and used to retract the lip or cheek whileadministering a Novocain type injection. The 2 nodes 58 will makecontact with the soft or hard tissue in the mouth at the same time. Thiswill cause a vibratory stimulus to the nerves adjacent to and bracketingthe injection site 60, exciting the nerves in the immediate arearesulting in a relatively painless injection. Charging unit 70 is wherevibrating unit will be stored when not in use. The invention isapplicable to humans as well as animals.

FIG. 1A shows in detail the 360° switch. The handle 12 has a wall 200just to the rear of the resilient collar 24, and a wall 202 just forwardof the collar 24. Springs 204 are attached at one end to the walls 200and 202, as shown in FIG. 1A, and attached at their other end to a disc206 that sits in the plane of collar 24 with small clearance. Thus thedisc 206 will essentially float in the space beneath the collar 24. Thecenter of disc 206 is cutout at 208, and the portion surrounding thecutout is tapered to provide a circular inclined surface 209. Twosmaller diameter plates 210 are fixed or suspended from the walls 200and 202 by struts 212 to abut the disc 206 in a manner that allows disc206 to move radially relative to the two guide plates 210. Switch 22 ispositioned in the conical section 40 and is held at its rear in the wall202. The actuator rod 211 for switch 22 extends freely through wall 202and plate 210 with it free end 213 lying in the plane of the disc 206.When collar 24 is pushed radially inwardly, the disc 206 will becontacted at its periphery and pushed or shifted radially, regardless ofthe angular location of the contact between the collar 24 and the disc206. Thus, the incline portion 209 will strike the actuator rod 211causing it to move axially into the switch 22 to actuate switch 22 toturn on, if off and to turn off, if on.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is primarily used for dentistry, but maybe used in a medical application. The dental retractor vibrator ispreferably about 7 inches long, the handle being about 5 inches long andthe disposable tip 50 being about 2 inches long, and about ¾ inches to 1inch in diameter. The width of the nodes 58 is from about 1/16 to about¼ inches with about 3/16 inches preferred, and the spacing between thenodes 58 is from about ⅛ inches to about 1 inch with ⅜ inches beingpreferred. The paddle width is from about ½ inch to about 1.5 incheswide.

FIG. 3 shows a hardwired model provided with a line 74 to connect to aAC voltage source and powering via circuit 76 the vibration unit.

As noted, a charger is provided, which may be any conventional charger.Preferably, the charger is of the inductive type in which the end of thehandle 12 is inserted into a cylindrical opening of the charger. Thecylindrical opening is surrounded by a coil and recharging energy istransferred from the coil surrounding the opening 14 to the transfercharge device in the handle 12 which provides the recharging energy tothe batteries 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a most preferred of the preferredembodiments for the dental application is shown. The dental unit 80consists of a handle 82 composed of hard plastic that is provided withsoft plastic covering at 84 and 86 for better gripping. A seam 88 isprovided in handle 82 to enable the front end 83 to be separated fromthe rear end 85 to enable battery replacement. The details of the insideof the handle are omitted for the sake of clarity as the inside containsthe same components as shown in FIG. 1, a vibration source, batteries, amusic recorder/player, a speaker and a suitable interconnecting andcontrol circuit to perform the functions described. Switch buttons 90and 92 are provided to turn the vibration unit on and off, respectively.A switch 94 is provided to turn the music player on/off. Two small metalpanels 96 and 98 are provided for battery recharging indicated as + and− poles. A pair of ultra bright LED bulbs 100 are provided on oppositesides of the handle directed over the disposable tip 104 to light thearea of the injection. An acoustic hole is provided (not shown) formusic out from the mini-speaker positioned inside the handle 82 inalignment with the hole. The front end of handle 82 is provided with ahard plastic transition section 106 having a projection extendingforwardly similar to what is described in conjunction with FIG. 1 (notshown) for detachably mounting the disposable tip 104 in a suitablecantilevered manner, such as described for mounting tip 50 inconjunction with FIG. 1. The disposable tip 104 is comprised of a hardplastic bone 108 formed to coact with hard plastic section 106 formounting in a detachable manner, as described. The bone 108 is coveredby a soft FDA approved plastic or rubber coating 110. The free end 112of tip 104 is bifurcated by a U-shaped recess 114 to define twoforwardly extending projections 116 that are rounded 118 at their freeends. The projections 116 are so formed that they will lie in proximityto, adjacent to and bracket an injection site 120 that is positioned atleast partially in the recess 114.

The dental unit of FIGS. 4 and 5 is preferably about 215 mm long withthe disposable tip being about 70 mm long and the handle being about16.5 mm in diameter. The disposable tip 104 is shaped with a flat paddleportion 122 to serve as a retractor that at its rear transitions into acylindrical section to mate and mount on section 106. The operation ofthe dental retractor vibrator is apparent from the description of FIG. 1and will not be further elaborated.

FIG. 6 illustrates a dental unit combined with a toy in a manner usefulfor taking care of children for the purpose of distracting them whileperforming an injection. The toy is shown as an automobile 130, the rearof which has an opening 132 in which to insert the retractor vibrator 10or 80 of either FIG. 1 or FIG. 4 in a manner that the projecting portionof the instrument enables the dentist access to the control button foron/off and to be able to use the disposable tip 50 or 104 effectively.When the procedure is finished, the retractor vibrator can be removedform the toy and the toy given to the child. Any suitable toy can beused for this purpose, such as a doll, a fire truck and the like, aslong as it is modified to receive the retractor vibrator in a detachablemanner.

FIG. 7 illustrates a medical application of the invention, that is, tosome part of the body other than the mouth. The medical unit consists ofa pair of hard plastic housings 140, each containing a vibration source,batteries, a music recorder/player, a speaker and a suitableinterconnecting and control circuit to perform the functions described.Each has its own switch 142 which needs to be depressed to initiatevibration and held depressed to continue vibrating. When switch 142 isreleased, the vibration is turned off. The forward end of each housing140 is angled inwardly at an acute angle, e.g. 30°, toward the space 146(wherein injection site 147 is at least partially located) thatseparates the two housings 140, with the terminal end of each housing140 provided with a projecting cantilevered post 144 having a free end148. The rear end of the housings 140 are resiliently coupled togetherby a V-shaped bar of hard plastic 152 to provide a resilient couplingwhereby the two housings 140 can be pushed toward each other and whenreleased, return to the condition shown in the figure. Lights areoptional for the two housings 140, and if present are at the positionindicated by the reference numeral 150, and are directed to the space146. The dot-dash line indicates a toy into which the unit can beinserted for the purposes described in conjunction with FIG. 6.

A sterile resilient disposable covering 154 is placed over the posts 144and consists of two caps 160 that cover the posts 144 and the conicalforward ends 162 of the housings 140. The two caps, in the area of space146 are interconnected by a web 164 that has a thickened portion 166 toengage the conical forward ends 162 and bear on the main portion ofhousings 140. The juncture 168 between conical sections 162 and the mainbody of the housings 140 defines a shoulder 179 that provides anundercut to help hold the disposable covering on the unit and to shieldthe unit from contact with the injection site. Alternatively, simplesterile resilient caps 160 can be placed on the posts 144 only to justcover them. The covering can be soft FDA approved plastic or rubber. Theprincipal use for the unit described above is medical to inject into askin area. The capped posts 144 are placed in proximity to, adjacent toand bracketing an injection site 147, e.g. on a person's arm, and thebuttons 142 are depressed to make each housing 140 vibrate, the housings140 are pushed against the skin and flesh and slightly toward each othercompressing the skin and flesh around the injection site, and whilevibrating, the injection is effected. Referring to FIG. 8, a furtherembodiment of the medical apparatus is shown. The main body 220 of themedical unit is configured to fit in the palm of a human hand, like acomputer mouse. Wishbone-shaped arms 222 are pivotally attached to themain body 220 by means of a pivot pin 224. The arms 222 mounted on thepivot pin 224 under the influence of a resilient force, e.g. a leafspring 225 coiled around the pivot pin 224 and bearing on the arms 222to urge them apart to the position shown in the figure. Suitable stops226 can be provided to hold the position of the arms 222 as shown in thefigure. The arms 222 cantilever upwardly, as shown in the figure andterminate in free ends 228. All components thus far described arecomposed of hard plastic, except for the spring force provided toresiliently urge the arms apart. The details of the inside of the body220 are omitted for the sake of clarity as the inside contains the samecomponents as shown in FIG. 1, a vibration source, batteries, a musicrecorder/player, a speaker and a suitable interconnecting and controlcircuit to perform the functions described. Switch buttons 230 and 232are provided to turn the vibration unit on and off, respectively.

A pair of sterile caps 234 having enlarged facing bosses 236 is receiveddetachably over the free ends 228 of the arms 222. Caps 234 are composedof a soft FDA approved sterile plastic or hard rubber.

In use, the patient's tissue which is to be vibrated is placed betweenthe ends 228 of the wishbone arms 228. The operator squeezes the arms228 together bringing the vibration tips or caps 236 and bosses 236 incontact with the tissue and close to one another and in proximity with,adjacent to and bracketing the site of the intended injection. Thevibration unit is activated, and the vibration energy is delivered tothe caps or tips 234 and transferred to the tissue. The tissue is at thelocation of an injection site which is at least partially within thespace 238 between the arms 222. While the tissue is being vibrated inthis manner, the injection is given.

It should be apparent to one skilled in the art, from the abovedescription that the present invention can be utilized in a variety ofprocedures requiring a skin or flesh puncture. Such other proceduresinclude such things as inoculations, shots to give patients medication,etc. Such skin punctures procedures can be performed on any portion ofthe body such as the arm, legs, buttocks, torso, etc.

The method of the invention consists in vibrating tissue of a human oranimal in proximity to, adjacent to and bracketing a preselectedinjection site on the human or animal body while simultaneouslyinjecting by a needle or like instrument a liquid at the preselectedinjection site. The bracketing is on spaced locations relative to theinjection site, and preferably on opposite sides of injection site.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A, B and C, a fifth embodiment is shown ascomprised of a main body 300 made of a hard plastic in the general shapeof a computer mouse that houses the relevant components described abovewith respect to FIG. 1. The details of the inside of the body 300 areomitted for the sake of clarity, as the inside contains some or all ofthe same components as shown in FIG. 1, a vibration source, batteries, amusic recorder/player, a speaker and a suitable interconnecting andcontrol circuit to perform the functions described. Switch buttons 302and 304 are provided to turn the vibration unit on and off,respectively. The hard plastic of the main body is covered, as shown inthe drawing, with soft plastic covering 303 for enhancing the grippingof the main body by hand. Contacts 305 for battery charging are shown inFIG. 9C. Optionally, lights can be mounted at the front end of the mainbody in the manner of the embodiment of FIG. 1, but are omitted from thedrawing for the sake of clarity. The forward end of the main body 300terminates in an open ended tubular conical projection or cone 306 thaton its surface defines opposed series of parallel ridges 308. A hardplastic core 310 in a shallow U-shape, akin to a cow's horns, is coveredon both tips 312 with an FDA approved soft plastic covering 314. At themid-point of the core 310 there is projecting a solid cylindrical stub316 that is received in the open end of the projection 306 and heldtherein in any suitably clipped detachable manner. The core 310 issterile and disposable, or alternatively could be provided with sterileand disposable removable coverings for the tips 312. The conicalprojection 306 coacts with the stub 316 to clip the stub 316 detachablyin the projection 306, for example, by press fit, by detent, by internalbayonet fit, or any other suitable means that will be readily apparentto one of ordinary skill in the art, and requires no furtherelaboration. In one form, pressing the ridges 308 together can provideenough movement to release a clipped stub 316. Activation of thevibrating unit in the main body 300 causes the entire instrument tovibrate. The legs or “horns” of core 310 will be vibrated and they areof sufficiently flexibility to be brought toward each other slightly, sothat skin or tissue between them can be placed under slight compressionor pressure while an injection is made. The injection site is in thespace between the tips 312. The skin or tissue in proximity, adjacent toand bracketing the injection site is slightly compressed and vibrated bythe tips 312 during the injection. The core 310 and the parts attachedto it are disposable, so that after use, it can be discarded and a newsterile core 310 can be inserted into the cone 306. Or as mentionedpreviously, disposable sterile coverings can be placed over the tips 312for each use, and the core 310 retained intact.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A, B and C, a sixth embodiment is shown ascomprised of a main body 400 made of a hard plastic in a suitableergonometric shape to fit more comfortably in a human hand. The mainbody is necked-down at 401 for this purpose. The main body 400 housesthe relevant components described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 9.The details of the inside of the body 400 are omitted for the sake ofclarity, as the inside contains some or all of the same components asshown in FIG. 1, a vibration source, batteries, a music recorder/player,a speaker and a suitable interconnecting and control circuit to performthe functions described. Switch buttons 404 and 406 are provided to turnthe vibration unit on and off, respectively. The hard plastic of themain body is covered, as shown in the drawing, with soft plasticcovering 402 for enhancing the gripping of the main body by hand.Contacts 405 for battery charging are shown in FIG. 10C. Optionally,lights can be mounted at the front end of the main body in the mannerdescribed with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 1, but are omittedfrom the drawing for the sake of clarity. The forward end of the mainbody 400 terminates in an open ended projection 406 that includestubular cylindrical projection or tube 407. Buttons 408 are mounted inopposite sides of tube 407 that are spring biases to normally intrudeinto the space in the tube 407 but will retract when the buttons arepressed inwardly. A hard plastic core 410 in a shallow U-shape, akin toa cow's horns, is covered on both tips 412 with an FDA approved softplastic covering 414. At the mid-point of the core 410 there isprojecting a solid cylindrical stub 416 that is received in the open endof the tube 407; core 401 has a groove adjacent its free end to coactwith the buttons 408 in a known manner to detachably clip the core 410in the tube 404. The core 410 is sterile and disposable, oralternatively could be provided with sterile and disposable removablecoverings for the tips 412. The tube 407 coacts with the stub 416 toclip the stub 416 detachably in the tube 407 in the manner described.However, this can be done for example, by press fit, by detent, byinternal bayonet fit, or any other suitable means all of which are knownand readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, and requiresno further elaboration. Activation of the vibrating unit in the mainbody 400 causes the entire instrument to vibrate. The legs or “horns” ofcore 410 will be vibrated and they are of sufficiently flexibility to bebrought toward each other, so that skin or tissue between them can beplaced under slightly compression or pressure while an injection ismade. The injection site is in the space between the tips 412. The skinor tissue in proximity, adjacent to and bracketing the injection site isslightly compressed and vibrated by the tips 412 during the injection.The core 410 and the parts attached to it are disposable, so that afteruse, it can be discarded and a new sterile core 410 can be inserted intothe tube 407. Or as mentioned previously, disposable sterile coveringscan be placed over the tips 412 for each use, and the core 310 retainedintact.

While the present invention has been shown and described herein in whatare conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isrecognized that departures, modifications, adaptations and variationsmay be made therefrom without departing from the intended scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims.

1. An instrument for minimizing pain during administration by injectionof a liquid, such as, an anesthetic comprising (a) an elongated maintubular body having a rear end and a forward end; (b) a vibration unitmounted in the main body to transmit vibrations; (c) a detachableelongated tip composed of hard plastic and having a rear portion and aforward portion; (i) the rear portion of said tip configured anddimensioned to match and be mountable on the forward end of the mainbody; (ii) said tip, via said rear portion, being cantilever coaxiallydetachably mounted on the forward end of the main body so that the tipextends axially forwardly and terminates in a free end; (iii) theforward portion of said tip adjacent its free end transitioning to aretractor portion; (d) two spaced, forwardly extending, shortprojections of hard plastic spaced between about ⅛ inch to about 1 inchapart and of smaller cross section than the cross section of the freeterminal forward end of said elongated tip for receiving vibrationstransmitted from the vibration unit in the main body, each saidprojection having a rear end fixed to the free terminal forward end ofsaid tip and extending forwardly and terminating in a free rounded end,said projections lying in close proximity while defining a free spacetherebetween; (e) a soft plastic or rubber coating covering the freeforward end of each said projection; (f) whereby the free forward endsof the two forwardly extending spaced projections of the detachable tipcovered by soft plastic or rubber coatings can directly contact tissueat a proposed injection site on a human or animal and vibrate the tissuewhile an injection is given juxtaposed to the spaced projections.
 2. Aninstrument according to claim 1 wherein a control switch is provided onthe main body for on/off control of the vibration unit.
 3. An instrumentaccording to claim 1 wherein a music player is included in the main bodyfor playing music through a speaker.
 4. An instrument according to claim1 wherein the main body includes rechargeable batteries as a powersource to drive the vibration unit.
 5. An instrument according to claim1, further comprising a light to illuminate a space between the twoprojections.
 6. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein the twoprojections vibrate independently.
 7. An instrument according to claim 1wherein the tip includes a retractor that is reflective.
 8. Aninstrument according to claim 1 further including a toy having a recessinto which the instrument is detachably received so that the detachabletip and the forward end of the main body of the instrument that holdsthe tip project out of the toy and can be operated.
 9. An instrumentaccording to claim 1 wherein the main body includes a projection ontowhich said tip is cantilever coaxially detachably mounted.
 10. Aninstrument for minimizing pain during administration of a liquid byinjection, the instrument comprising: a main body having a rear end anda forward end; a vibration unit mounted in the main body to transmitvibrations; a detachable tip having a rear section and a front end, therear section being detachably mounted on the forward end of the mainbody to extend forward axially and to receive the vibrations transmittedfrom the vibration unit, the front end of the detachable tip comprisingtwo forwardly extending spaced projections that define a preselectedinjection site in a space in close proximity to the two forwardlyextending spaced projections, the two forwardly extending spacedprojections of the detachable tip being spaced between about ⅛ inches toabout 1 inch apart, wherein the detachable tip is configured to retractany overlapping tissue or skin to expose the preselected injection siteand the tissue at the preselected injection site while the two forwardlyextending spaced protections are in contact with tissue in closeproximity to and bracketing the preselected injection site on a human oranimal, and the two forwardly extending spaced projections of thedetachable tip are configured to simultaneously vibrate to providevibratory stimulus to facilitate pain reduction while an injection isbeing administered to the preselected injection site.
 11. An instrumentaccording to claim 10 wherein a control switch is provided on the mainbody for on/off control of the vibration unit.
 12. An instrumentaccording to claim 10 wherein the main body includes rechargeablebatteries as a power source to drive the vibration unit.
 13. Aninstrument according to claim 10, further comprising a light toilluminate the preselected injection site.
 14. An instrument accordingto claim 10 wherein the two forwardly spaced projections vibrateindependently.
 15. An instrument according to claim 10 further includinga toy having a recess into which the instrument is detachably receivedso that the detachable tip and the forward end of the main body of theinstrument that holds the tip project out of the toy and can beoperated.